WRITING POETRY WITH YOUR STUDENTS

There are many teachers who are familiar with poetry, with reading it and teaching kids to write it in the classroom. Others I have met confess they avoid it - they've never learned how to write poems themselves and certainly never learned how to teach their students.
Poetry seems to be something that can scare anyone!

Please take some time to read my notes on Immersion in Poetry, and try out the ideas. Immersion is about reading for enjoyment, wallowing in poems for the sheer pleasure of what they can give you. You can do this in tandem with writing, or before you try some writing.

The following are some ideas and materials for use in the classroom when you're ready to write. Level One is for absolute beginners, Level Two is for students who have a little bit of experience with poetry, and Level Three is for students who have written a fair amount and are ready for experimenting and play.

Level One - class poems, small poems

Level Two - more poem ideas

Level Three - here

There are also more poetry writing ideas on this page for young poets.

More materials will be available here very soon!